Mainland senior Quinton Powell decommits from Gators

Mainland senior linebacker Quinton Powell said Monday night he has decommitted from the Florida Gators and will visit Southern Cal, Oregon and Miami.

BRIAN LINDERSTAFF WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — Mainland's Quinton Powell said Monday night he has decommitted from the University of Florida.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker/defensive end — the 80th-ranked senior in the nation, according to ESPN — committed to the Gators in February and took an official visit to the school last weekend.

“It honestly wasn't the visit,” Powell said. “I felt welcomed, and the coaches were absolutely great. It was just the overall aspect of where my mind was. I did not want a title behind my name. I wanted to get out there and see what best fits me.”

Powell said he plans to visit Southern Cal, Miami and Oregon.

“Just one night, I was lying in bed and I was like, ‘Wow, I'm missing out on a lot of opportunities,'” he said. “I committed to Florida in February, and now that the deadline is coming, I haven't been able to visit other areas. I haven't been able to see different places like California and Oregon. I've been to one side of Oregon, but not (where the Oregon campus is). To be honest, I have barely seen Miami.”

Powell said he does not have a visit scheduled to any of the schools, and he is open to visiting other schools as well.

“Whatever schools show interest, I could take my officials there,” he said. “Now that this is out there, I'm sure some other schools will show a little more interest. Whatever opportunities are out there, I will look at.”

Powell also said he would consider recommitting to the Gators.

“If they keep my offer out there, they are still in the mix,” he said.

Powell played mostly defensive end for Mainland this season, helping lead the Buccaneers to the Class 6A regional finals, where they lost 41-14 to Naples. He finished the year with 94 tackles and led the area in tackles for loss (34) and sacks (12).